Arsenal have expressed an interest in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
Adam Wharton, 20, only joined Crystal Palace at the start of 2024 after excelling at Blackburn Rovers in the first-half of last season’s Championship, and despite only making 16 appearances in the Premier League, he was called up by Gareth Southgate to the England squad for the 2024 European Championships.
The central midfielder has blown hot and cold this season as the Eagles have struggled under Oliver Glasner. He has only made eight Premier League appearances, but his age and sky-high potential have seen the Englishman emerge as a target for the Gunners.
Arsenal have reportedly held talks with Palace over the possible transfer of Wharton in the January transfer window, although they could face competition from Liverpool and Manchester City. The South Londoners would ask for more than €65m for the youngster, but the Gunners would want to close the operation at around €55m.
Arsenal eyeing midfield reinforcements
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is keen on freshening up his options in the middle of the park with Thomas Partey and Jorginho both being out of contract at the end of the season, though, the club do have an option to extend the latter’s deal for an extra year if required.
With just Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and Ethan Nwaneri as their other central midfielders beyond them, a fresh face would be required in the roster if both Partey and Jorginho leave at the end of the season. Wharton could be that man for the Gunners.
The 20-year-old has the qualities to become Jorginho’s potential long-term replacement at the Emirates Stadium. The England international offers not only creativity from deeper areas but also technical brilliance, bite and energy to control the flow of the game. The Palace maestro has the ability to dictate the pace of the play, and combine that with his knack for getting forward and contributing in the final third—it makes him an ideal candidate to succeed Jorginho.
Arsenal’s track record of developing young talents under Arteta has been impressive, making the club an attractive destination for any rising player like Wharton. Arteta and Co. have the space and ability to offer consistent game time to the Blackburn-born talent. With Palace struggling in the relegation zone, Wharton may look to jump ship in January if the Gunners come calling.
The Englishman is a special talent, and if signed and groomed properly by Arsenal, he could gone onto become one of the best midfielders across the Premier League.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
